Connecting device for electric conductors.



D. T. FISHER. CONNECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC OONDUGTORS.

APPLICATION FILED 133.24, 1910.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

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Be it known thatI, DUDLEY '1. FISHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Connecting Devices forElectric Conductors, of whic the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to theaccompanying drawm lhis invention relates .toconnecting devices for electric conductors. y V

In many mines, especially coal mines, where electricity is commonlyused, explosive gases frequently collect at various points where the maybe readily fired by sparks or flame w 'ch may be caused by electricalapparatus.

The object of this invention is t6 providea means whereby two conductorsniay .be connected or disconnected without the possibility of any sparkor flame that may be formed being communicated to the atmosphere of themine. g i

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of myinvention which is adapted for the connection of the ends of two movableconductor wires or cables, but it will be understood that my inventionis equally applicable to a device for connecting together two ermanentlylocated conductors or a remova le conductor and a permanently locatedconductor. It will be further understood that various structural changesmay be made within the scope .of my invention.

Referring to the drawing -Figure 1' is a cross sectional view. Fig. 2 isa cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1. taken alongthe line 33 of Fig. 1. I

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a cylindrical or tubular frame,which for the sake of convenience, may be constructed in two parts 1 and1 The frame 1 is'provided with three transverse walls 2, 3 and 4:. Thewalls 3 and 4 serve to form a flame proof chamber 5, which may berovided with an aperture 6, covered by a wire gauze- 7 If preferredhowever, the gauze covered aperture 6 may be omitted and the chamber 5filled with oil, or the oil may be dispensed with and reliance placed onthe walls of the chamber 5 for the entire exclusion of all explosivegases.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

' Application fled February 24, 1010. Serial Io. 545,70.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view,

GNNEGTIHG DBVICII 1'03 QDNIQUCTOBS.

Pateateaiiw.5, 1o12.

Slidabl'y, mounted in apertures in the transverse walls-2 and 3 is aconductor rod 8 having a collar 9, which is-adapted to'en-' gauge thewall 2 to limit the motion of the r A'co l spring 10 surrounds the rodin the chamber between the walls 2 and 3 and serves-to normally hold therod in the position shown in the drawings,

9 in engagementwith the wall 2. A terminal socket 11 is providedvin thechamber 5 and is connected to the end of a conductor wire or cable 12.The socket 11 is located in alinement with the rod 8. when the rod 8 ismoved longitudinally it w ll engage the socket 11 to form electricalconnection therewith.

.13 is a plug having a socket 15 which is a 16. The plug 13 is adaptedto enter the end part of the tubular frame 1, which extends beyond thewall 2, the socket 15 at the same time engagin the rod 8 and formingelectrical connection therewith. The continued movement of the forcesthe rod 8 longitudinally into engagement with the socket 11 therebycompleting the electrical connection between the conductors 16 and12.

A slot 17 is formed in the frame 1 and at the inner end of this slot-17is a second slot or notch 18 at an angle to it. A pin 19 is provided onthe plug 13. This pin is adapted to enter the slot 17 and when in properposition a slight rotation 'of the .plug will move the pin into thenotch 18, thereby locking the plug in place.

It will be noted that the spring 10 maintains the rod 8 out ofengagement with the socket 11 at all times, except when it is heldengagement by means of the plug 13. There ore when it is desired toconnect the conductors 16 and 12, connection must be rod 8 and thesocket 11 and it is this latter connection which completes theelectrical circuit. Any spark therefore will be formed within the flameproof chamber 5, from which it cannot be communicated to the externalatmosphere. When the connection broken, the rod 8 and the socket 11 arefirst disengaged by the action of the spring 10, and this disengagementbreaks the electric circuit in the chamber 5, where no harm can betweenthe conductors 16- and 12 is to bewith the collar connected with theconductor wire or cable plug-'13 into the frame 1,

firstinade between the socket 15 and rod 8. Connection is afterward madebetween the be done by' any spark that may be formed. The socket 15 andthe rod 8 are afterward .disengaged when no current is flowing throughthem.-

-What I'claim is:

1. In a connecting device for electric conductors, the combination oftwo conductor terminals, a permanently flame proof casingsurroundlng oneof them, and an 1ntermed1 ate conductor member movably mounted in anaperture of the casing and adapted to detachably engage both terminals,substantially as set forth.

2. In a connecting device for electric conductors, the combination oftwo terminals, a permanently flame proof casing surrounding I one. ofthem, an intermediate conductor member movably mounted in an aperture ofthe casing and adapted to detachably engage both terminals, automaticmeans for nor mally holding the intermediate member out of engagementwith the terminal in the casing, and means for locking the intermediatemember in engagement with the terminal.

within the casing when the other terminal is in engagement with theintermediate member, substantially as set forth.

3. In a connecting device for electric conductors, the combination of apermanently flame proof casing, a conductor movably mounted in anaperture of the casing, a conductor terminal within the casing adaptedto be engaged by the movably mounted conductor, means for normallyholding the movably mounted conductor out of engagement with theterminal within the casing, and a second conductor terminal adapted toengage the movably mounted conductor to move it into engagement with theconductor terminal within the casing, substantially as set forth.

4. In a connecting device for electric conductors, the combination of acylinder closed at one end and open at the other, said cylinder beingprovided with a slot extending from the open end parallel to the axis,and a second slot communicating with the first slot at substantiallyright angles thereto, a conductor terminal within the cylinder, aterminal plug adapted to enter the cylinder and engage the terminal, anda'pin connected to the plug and adapted to enter the slots of thecylinder to lock the plug in position, substantially as set forth.

- 5. In a connecting device for electric conductors, the combination oftwo conductor terminals, a conductor adapted to be disadapted to beinoved by its engagement with .one terminal into engagement with theother,

and means surrounding the engaging parts of the conductor and theterminal with which it last engages to prevent the communication ofsparks or flame to the external atmosphere, substantlallyas set forth.

6. In a connecting-device for electric conductors,'the combination oftwo conductor terminals, an apertured casing surrounding from both ofthe terminals andone of them, a gauze covering the aperture,

and an intermediate conductor member adapted to be engaged by theconductor terminal which is outside the casing and to be thereby moved'into or out of engagement with the conductor terminal inside the casing,substantially as set forth.

7 n a connecting device for electric conductors, the combination of atube open at one end and closed at the other, an aper-' tured transversewall in the tube, a conductor terminal in the chamber between the,

said wall and the closed end, a conductor movable in the aperture of thetransverse wall to engage or disengage the terminal in the chamber, aspring for normally holding the conductor out of engagement with theterminal, and a second conductor terminal adapted to enter the open endof the tube to engage the conductor and move it into engagement with theconductor terminal in the chamber, substantially as set forth.

8. In a connecting device for electric conductors, the combination of atube open at one end and closed at the other, two apertured transversewalls in the tube, a conductor terminal in the chamber between one walland the closed end, a conductor movable in the aperture of thetransverse walls to engage or disengage the terminal in the chamber, aspring located in the chamber between the two transverse walls fornormally holding the conductor out of engagement with the terminal, anda second conductor terminal adapted to enter the open end of the tube toengage the conductor and move it into engagement with the conductorterminal in that chamber, substantially as set forth.

In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

W. R. YOUMANS, I N. D. LEVIN.

